Day II: 20 Aftershocks rock Japan | Earthquake | Tsunami

Day II: 20 aftershocks rock Japan | Earthquake | Tsunami

At least 20 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 5 to 6.8, rocked Japan's east coast Saturday, a day after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake devastated the country, causing mass destruction.

People wait to be rescued atop a building with the letters "SOS" after an earthquake in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people. REUTERS

An aerial view of the earthquake and tsunami damage at the coastal town of Minami Soma. Japan launched a massive military rescue operation Saturday after a giant, quake-fed tsunami killed hundreds of people and turned the northeastern coast into a swampy wasteland, while authorities braced for a possible meltdown at a nuclear reactor. REUTERS

This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) image released on March 11, 2011 shows model runs from the Center for Tsunami Research at the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory showing the expected wave heights of the tsunami as it travels across the Pacific basin. AFP

Cars and airplanes swept by a tsunami are pictured among debris at Sendai Airport, northeastern Japan March 11, 2011.REUTERS

The damage caused by the quake that struck Friday was amplified by tsunami waves slamming Pacific coastal regions in northeastern Japan. At least 630 people were killed in the catastrophe, Xinhua reported, citing public broadcaster NHK. A total of 725 people have still been unaccounted for in six prefectures.

The number of victims of the catastrophe is expected to rise to well over 1,000 people, the defence ministry said Saturday. The National Police Agency said around 1,800 houses in Fukushima prefecture were destroyed. It said more than 215,000 people were in emergency shelters in eastern and northern Japan Saturday.

Search and rescue efforts are being conducted with the help of the US military, with around 20,000 personnel, nearly 200 aircraft and 25 boats being dispatched to the hardest-hit northeastern region.

The foreign ministry said 50 nations have offered to provide support. Prime Minister Naoto Kan Saturday inspected a quake-hit nuclear power plant in Fukushima, where damage from a radioactive leak is feared. He also toured other affected areas.

"I realised the huge extent of the tsunami damage," Kan told reporters after returning to Tokyo. Almost six million households were left without power in quake-hit areas Saturday and four trains operating in the coastal regions of Miyagi and Iwate prefectures have yet to be found following the colossal tsunami.

Sendai Airport is flooded after a tsunami following an earthquake in Sendai, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011. The biggest earthquake to hit Japan in 140 years struck the northeast coast on Friday, triggering a 10-metre tsunami that swept away everything in its path, including houses, cars and farm buildings on fire. A tsunami warning has been issued for the entire Pacific basin except for the mainland United States and Canada following a huge earthquake that hit Japan on Friday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.REUTERS

Boats are swept by a wave after a tsunami and earthquake in Asahikawa city March 11, 2011.REUTERS

Ships tossed ashore by a tsunami following an earthquake are seen in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Over 200 fires still burning in quake-hit areas. REUTERS

Houses and buildings burn following an earthquake in Yamada town, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011.REUTERS

The earthquake struck in the middle of the working day. Shoppers in this bookshop in Sendai froze in fear as parts of the roof collapsed.REUTERS

The quake struck in the middle of the working day. These commuters were forced to abandon their journey and evacuate along railway lines.REUTERS

Smoke rises from a burning building during the aftermath in Tokyo.REUTERS

Evacuated employees are pictured near toppled tanks at a brewery in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, near the disaster's epi centre.REUTERS

Flames engulf buildings in an industrial complex in Sendai, northern Japan. Four people have been injured in an explosion in Fukushima nuclear power plant, state broadcaster NHK reported.REUTERS

Houses swept away by the tidal waves smoulder near Sendai Airport.REUTERS

Part of a town gets flooded in Sendai, northern Japan. Residents have been asked to cover their faces with masks and wet towels.REUTERS

Houses burn after being swept away by water in Natori City in northeastern Japan.

Vehicles and debris get washed away and the ground flooded in Sendai, northern Japan. People have been asked to stay indoors, told not to drink tap water.REUTERS

Lorries and vans are among the other items washed up by the tsunami.REUTERS

People evacuated to a rooftop look on at damaged buildings in Kesennuma.REUTERS

A graphic from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center shows a "tsunami forecast model", which predicts the height of the waves caused by the tsunami in the Pacific Ocean. REUTERS

Smoke ascends over an industrial area as flames are seen in Sendai, northern Japan. Rescuers use shovels, hand towels to dig out survivors in Sendai.REUTERS